Making Change at Walmart

In the grocery industry, union contracts guarantee protections and a voice on the job. But at the company with the most grocery sales in America — Walmart — our fellow workers are not receiving the respect they deserve. That's why the UFCW unions across the country are joining with workers and community leaders to make change at Walmart. We are working directly with Walmart Associates to claim the respect on the job they deserve; holding Walmart corporate managers accountable; and fighting to make sure that any new jobs offered by Walmart meet strong standards for healthy, growing communities.

Walmart in Seattle?

This was the question asked in a recent Seattle newspaper headline. The article said “Local unions poised to prevent retail giant from staking a claim in the metro market.”Read the full story.

Supermarket News also covered Walmart in their April 24th edition:Walmart Will Cost Seattle Jobs, Revenue: Study Read the full article.

A report was released by Puget Sound Sage, a regional economic policy advocacy organization, concluding that each new Walmart store opening in a Puget Sound neighborhood will result in a net loss of $13 million of net economic output and $14 million in lost wages over the 20 year life of the store.

The report, by economic impact expert Dr. Chris Fowler, is one of the first in the nation to use detailed economic analysis to determine the impact of a new Walmart ”neighborhood market” and stands in direct contrast to the academically weak reports commissioned by Walmart to promote its expansion in urban areas in recent years.

Making Change at Walmart Puget Sound Launch

On January 5, UFCW 21 joined over 20 community organizations to launch the Puget Sound area Making Change at Walmart coalition. We believe when employers like Walmart come to our communities with big empty promises, we insist they live up to our values. This is about respect. This is about good jobs. This is about healthy communities and a better world. Join a growing number of people and organizations atMakingChangeatWalmart.org.

UFCW 21 Report: Broken Promises? Does Walmart do what Walmart says they'll do for local communities?

April 21, 2011 – In an effort to clean up a tarnished public image, Walmart is marketing itself to local communities with promises — promises the company will provide a range of benefits around jobs, wages, and tax revenue for local government.

A concern has emerged that these promises may not end up being true. Even more troubling, Walmart may be intentionally distorting or hiding the truth behind some of the claims. And local officials who do not get promises in written, enforceable agreements, may see those promised benefits disappear after a store opens.

Join up with the national campaign to make change at Walmart

April 21, 2011 – In an effort to clean up a tarnished public image, Walmart is marketing itself to local communities with promises — promises the company will provide a range of benefits around jobs, wages, and tax revenue for local government.

A concern has emerged that these promises may not end up being true. Even more troubling, Walmart may be intentionally distorting or hiding the truth behind some of the claims. And local officials who do not get promises in written, enforceable agreements, may see those promised benefits disappear after a store opens.

UFCW 21

UFCW 21 is the largest private-sector union in Washington state, with over 45,000 members working in grocery store, retail, health care, meat processing and other industry jobs. UFCW 21 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.

To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.